The former is a sprawling hilltop estate which was
Rogers' ranch home, and is located high atop the Santa Monica Mountains.
This smaller park is simply named in honor of the of the cowboy philosopher,
and is located in the flatlands of Beverly Hills, right across the
street from the legendary Beverly Hills
Hotel, at the north end of Rodeo Drive.

In
fact, the land for this five-acre park was a gift to the city from the
Beverly Hills Hotel, back in 1915, when it became the city's very first
park. (Before that, it used to be part of the Hotel's front lawn.)

This park is also located only a few blocks away
from Will Rogers' old Beverly Hills home (where he lived before he
moved to the ranch.)

It was here that Will Rogers was named Honorary Mayor
of Beverly Hills in 1926. The park was named in his honor in 1952, 17 years
after his death in a plane crash.

A bronze commemorative plaque near Sunset Blvd. features
a portrait of Will Rogers and a dedication to him.

And being at the center of Beverly Hills means that
this park has had its share of celebrity visitors.

Actor Michael Caine
tells of seeing John Wayne land in
a helicopter in this park, then watching the Duke head across the street
to the Beverly Hills Hotel - while wearing his cowboy duds! (Caine was
surprised that John Wayne recognized him, but apparently he had just seen
Caine's hit movie, "Alfie.")

This is the park where rock singer Rod Stewart
proposed to his wife, model Rachel Hunter
back in 1990. They were later married at the nearby Good Shepherd
Church. (Unfortunately, as of this date, Rachel has dumped Rod, and
was actually seen picnicking on the lawn at this very park with her new
beau in early 1999.)

Alas, the park made the news in an unfavorable light on April 7, 1998 when
former Wham! singer George Michael
was arrested for performing a lewd act in front of an undercover policeman
in the park's public restroom. He pleaded no contest to the charges, and
was fined $810, ordered to do community work and banned from the park.
Michael claimed the cop entrapped him, and later made a video making fun
of the incident.

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